Fourth generation of Hextalls on the way?

Ron Hextall is an NHL son and grandson. He may have the chance to be an NHL dad, too.

The former Philadelphia goaltender, son of Bryan Hextall Jr., grandson of Bryan Sr. (and nephew of Dennis), may get the chance to become part of the NHL's first four-generation family after the Phoenix Coyotes selected his son, Brett, Saturday in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Brett Hextall, at 5-foot-10 and 176 pounds, is a lot smaller than his dad, who is 6-foot-3. But, he was taken by the Coyotes after scoring 24 goals and 72 points this season for Penticton in the British Columbia Hockey League.

"His son and my son are the same age, and I saw him when he was 15, 16 years old back at Cushing Academy," Maloney said. "I remember him because he always played mean and ignorant at 14, 15 – he was one of those guys you just hated. He always had that Flyer mentality from the 70s; he'd spear a guy or hack a guy in the back of the leg."

When told that his son played just like he did, Ron Hextall laughed and joked, "I blame it on his mother."

But the proud father also knows that while a fourth generation of Hextalls in the NHL is now possible, it's no sure thing.

"That would be pretty cool," Ron said of having another generation of Hextalls in the League. "But he's still got a long way to go. To get drafted is one thing; to make it (in the NHL) is another. He's going to North Dakota and we'll see how he progresses."